[brittany_webb07]

I just want to know who thinks that ADD and ADHD is really a true illness? I honestly don't believe in it and think that kids are naturally hyper and they don't want to pay attention. I don't believe in medicating for that. But, that's just my opinion. I just want to knw what everyone else thinks.My 2 year old is very energetic all the time, and I'm afraid that when he gets into school, the teachers will start yelling Ritalin ( I believe that some teachers are just lazy and don't want to extra chore of dealing with kids that are energetic). Plus, my sons sperm donor had some psychological issues and so did his mom (bipolar, adult ADHD, alcohol and drug addiction) and I am scared to death that will happen to my sonOk number one, NO I odn't have a low opinion of teachers. There ARE teachers out there who are lazy. I'm NOT in denial, I think that it is diagnosed excessively in children who have lazy parents. I just think that 2 is too young to know if your child has it. I guess we will see when he gets into school. Any why do people get on here to harass other people who ask legitimate questions??? Plus, this was purely an opinion survey. You know, that thing everyone is entitled to?? I'm not saying ADD/ADHD is real or not, I'm just saying that I think there are a lot of lazy parents and teachers AND a lot of prescription happy doctors

[Racer]

Yes, I do believe in ADD and ADHD. My nephew was a"classic"case, and had he not been diagnosed properly, he would have failed out of school and life. However, he was not put on Ritalin...he was put on another host of 2-3 drugs. He was able to complete and graduate school and is now a licensed carpenter, which is what he wanted as his life career. When he was diagnosed and put on these drugs, the difference was stunning... just amazing. Yes I do believe that some children are diagnosed wrongly ... but the ones that do get the help/medications they need is more than worth it.

[Mike A]

I don't buy it. Not one bit.I think it's oversold by drug companies who make millions off people and doctors who have become drug pushers.I'm not that old - mid 30's but in my day when a kid couldn't concentrate or acted up, they were punished. Guess what, the behavior corrected.Funny though, how parents make all these excuses for their kids and the kids take advantage of it. Also funny how kids who are"ADHD"can sit down and play a video game for hours (concentrating) and solve these difficult games, yet can't sit and read a book. Hhhhmmmmm.......My opinion, any kid on Ritalin (meth) needs to get off it immediately and needs structure and parents who are actually parents and not excuse makers.

[philip o]

your correct about the energetic part. i would keep the child as far away from ritilin as possible. as far as the other things go i would see a doctor at first sign of any thing odd [bi-polar dis order] i believe is the one that could cause a problem [if passed on] . ritilin is no more then a cop out for lazy parents and an over taxed school system nation wide.the booze thing can be delt with. a bi-polar person will try to medicate them self's with booze not knowing what the heck their doing. there are doctors and programs galore to deal with that. just keep an eye on it your self it's just that easy

[mon]

9 times out of 10 medication is not the answer but under-trained doctors, teachers and parents are far too quick to prescribe Ritalin or other medications.Most successful people are somewhat hyperactive but these are the ones that learnt to turn their"problem"into an advantage.It can take considerable amounts of love, time and sacrifice to teach a hyper child to correctly direct his/her energy but that's what a parent is supposed to do anyway.